A/N: Just a little one shot thingy that popped into my head. Kinda want to continue it, kind of want to drown it in the ocean, it's whatever. Lemme know what you think if you feel so inclined to. Cookies are in order for those that do :p

"Move out of the way, Agent Swan."

Emma let out a huff and raised her steely gaze up from the cheap hotel carpeting.

"You know that I can't do that."

The woman in front of her took a step closer, invading Emma's space as both women squared their shoulders.

"As your Commander in Chief, I'm ordering you to stand down."

Emma adjusted her stance, folding her hands in front of her and straightening her back to stand a little taller than the brunette who was making no move to back away.

The blonde agent sighed, "Again, you know that I'm not going to do so, Regina."

Regina clenched her jaw in annoyance before turning away from Emma and walking to the other side of the room, crossing her arms over her chest as moved.

"I don't understand why you're being so pigheaded about this, Emma."

Emma scoffed, " And I don't understand why you're being so careless when it comes to your safety."

"I'm not being careless!" Regina threw up her hands, "There was no reason for you to pull me from that gala and you know it."

Emma raised an eyebrow, "Uh, there most definitely was."

"And what, pray tell, would that be?"

"Jesus Christ, you're insufferable." Emma groaned.

"But you already knew that, so, answer my question."

Emma gritted her teeth and locked her eyes with the woman who was currently working her last nerve.

"We pulled you out because it was a bright red flag when not one, but four foreign delegates showed up with unregistered, unscreened, unidentified security teams. That's upwards of twenty people that we have no idea who they are, what they want, or what they could be motivated to do. Do you understand that? Do you understand the amount of danger that you could have possibly been in?"

Regina opened and closed her mouth at this, her very nature causing her to want to argue. Instead, she let out a bitter laugh.

"Why not?"

Emma's eyes widened, "What the hell does that mean?"

"I only have a year left in office, Emma. Congress isn't willing to work with me, they're more inclined to work with Robin if I was gone. My mother died, my father's been gone since I was little. It doesn't really matter in the scope of things what happens to me. I'd rather be out there making an effort than holed up in some shell."

The agent's face contorted into shock, "How can you even say that?"

Regina let out a long sigh and rubbed her arms. She seemingly contemplated not answering Emma at all as she paced in front of the bed.

"It's true, is it not?"

Emma shook her head vehemently, "No! It's not! I can't believe you think that this team would ever just disregard your life like that. I can't believe you think so little of yourself! What happened to you?"

"I have no one, Emma. What do you not understand? I do nothing but wake up and be bombarded by hatred and old men who would rather stare at me and laugh than work with me to help this country." Regina snapped, her brown eyes shimmering dangerously with unshed tears.

"Do you really believe that you'd be better off gone?" Emma's asked quietly, "Scratch that, do you really think that I would let that happen?"

Emma tilted her head to look in Regina's eyes. The usually confident woman before her was now tugging on her lip with her teeth, looking more vulnerable than Emma had ever seen.

The woman worked her jaw for a few more seconds, "I mean, why not?"

"Look at me."

Regina didn't move from her stance in front of the bed, nor did she make any attempt to meet Emma's eyes.

"Regina, look at me."

Emma grew frustrated with the despondent woman and stalked towards her. It only took three strides for the agent to be in close proximity with Regina once again, and she took advantage of her slight height advantage to glare down at the woman. The brunette President began to turn away, causing both desperation and anger to rise up in Emma's chest. Regina can't just give up, not like this, not after how much they've been through.

"God damn it, Regina!" Emma cried, finally snapping.

The agent reached out and grabbed the brunette's arm firmly, forcing her to turn back.

"Let go of my arm, Miss Swan." Regina said lowly.

Emma's grip tightened, "Quit running away from me."

"I said, stop this, Agent Swan!" Regina cried, yanking her arm, "You're hurting me!"

Emma let go immediately, concern taking over instantly.

"I'm sorry, Regina, I just-"

"What?! What could you possibly have to say for yourself?"

Emma's bravado faltered for a second, it all came down to this moment, her whole career, all down to this second.

"You can't give up on yourself, Regina. I want you to know that. I want you to know that you aren't as alone as you think you are."

The brunette laughed a cold laugh, "Yes, I am."

"You have me."

Regina did look at her then, the sentence causing the air in the room to shift.

"What?"

Emma swallowed, her hands anxiously twisting into knots.

"You have me. I wouldn't let anything or anyone hurt you, Regina. I care what happens to you. And I hate seeing you so ready to give up. Don't you see how much you mean to me?"

Regina's eyes watered more at this, her breath hitching as her most loyal agent finally spilled her heart.

"Will you dance with me?"

Emma caught the look of confusion before it was displayed on her features. She knew that this was Regina's way of reaching out, of finally letting Emma in. And so, the blonde nodded solemnly, stepping back to wait for the President to make the first move.

She watched as Regina sat on the bed before sliding off each of her black, four inch heels. The brunette stood up again, flattening her hands over the navy blue sleeveless dress she had chosen for the night. Emma released the breath she hadn't realized she was holding and slid off her suit jacket so that she could drape it over the desk chair near the window. Holding her hand out for Regina to take, the blonde waited with baited breath for her to make the next move.

Regina slowly slid her shaky palm into Emma's own and allowed the agent to tug her closer. Finally pressed against Emma, Regina laid her head on the woman's shoulder as they gently began to sway. Emma turned them in small, slow circles, resting her arm snugly around Regina's waist. The blonde lowered her cheek to the President's soft hair, inhaling slowly. It felt so unimaginably wonderful to finally have the brunette in her arms. She had watched for years as Regina was worn down, had been the only one to witness countless meltdowns, had dried so many of the woman's tears, and now, being able to finally have Regina so close, Emma couldn't imagine anything better.

They danced for what seemed like both hours and only a few seconds. Emma began to lazily trace her hand up and down the smooth curves of Regina's back in a comforting motion. She couldn't help but smile when the hand Regina had on her neck tightened, twining into the blonde's ponytail.

"I always felt safe with you, you know?"

Emma cast her glance down to the woman in her arms, "Oh really?"

Regina nodded against Emma's shoulder.

"Even when you were new. I always felt like you would do anything."

"I would."

Regina smiled and pulled back from the agent.

"Will you stay in here with me tonight?"

Emma swallowed and stared at the ground for a moment, "Regina…"

"No one will know, and I'd like the company."

Looking into Regina's eyes, Emma could see the guardedness in them, the vulnerability that Regina was trying so desperately to hide. Her own emerald eyes softened at this and she nodded, gently tugging Regina back to her body.

"Of course."